1981 Ford F100 Revival (Parked for 12 years)

[Dorsai]

Hey!  I'm good, but yes...super busy.  Our former lead programming mentor for the robotics team had the temerity to retire back in July, so I've been desperately learning Java (I'm normally a Python guy).  The new season kicks off in January so we'll know soon how well I've done at that.

Haven't done much with the truck lately...it's due for an oil change now, so I am hoping to finally put one of those Baldwin filters on I was asking about a while back.  Then maybe I'll put the radio antenna back on, correctly this time, and fix the cowl/hood alignment issues that came from the last attempt.  Then I'd like to replace the door hinges, maybe get the doors aligned properly, and once that happens...etc etc etc.  You know the drill.

I'm hoping Jonathan updates this thread sometime soon, I was really hoping to see a first drive video before reaching the end.

[Gary Lewis]

Maybe you can help with the website and forum some day.  Surely there are lots of things we could do better if we just had a Java guru.  

Anyway, hope things slow down for you, at least over Christmas.  

[Jonathan]

I apologize for the long delay in providing updates. As the weather got colder the days got shorter. After finishing work it would already be dark and cold outside. On the warm weekends when I was free I was able to get some painting completed. I will update the thread now with what little I completed the last few months.

Here is the brake proportioning valve bracket painted after cleaning along with some related hardware. I also painted the battery hold down bracket again since I spilled something on it that melted the paint.

[Jonathan]

Well after all that work I damaged the paint on the frame by grinding parts too close to the truck. I had to prep and paint it again to cover up the damage. It seemed to chip the paint down to the primer. Hopefully after the paint sits longer it will be more durable this time. Here are some pictures showing the nicks and some after the respray.

[Jonathan]

I left some suspension hardware soaking in the sonic cleaner for way too long. I had to clean them up to get all the dirty solution that settled on the hardware. After sonic cleaning again I put in the vibrating tumbler with crushed glass. I still need to wire wheel and prep the parts to be painted.

[rcarlisle]

Hey!  Glad you're back on.   Can't wait to see what all you do next.  

[Jonathan]

One cold day I decided to clean up the garage so I can get to my tools. I put the heat on and went to work boxing up all the truck parts I purchased already and put them all together. There is more parts in the front seat of the truck and on the floor.

[Jonathan]

Thanks Randy!

rcarlisle wrote

Hey!  Glad you're back on.   Can't wait to see what all you do next.

[rcarlisle]

I have a couple smaller boxes with parts leftover and things from past projects.   I have a box of stuff for this dude working on a project of his own.  LOL.   Them seat hinge covers sure is looking good...

[Jonathan]

I did some more work on the axel. It was so dirty that I wanted to use the media blaster connected to my pressure washer. It really helps get the bulk of the crud off. But I wanted to remove the tie rod because I got a new one and didn't need it in the way. I bagged the king pin so I wouldn't get crushed glass and water inside it. After pounding on the ball joint with no progress I remembered I had a tool for just this reason. After tightening it up the ball joint flew off and hit my leg. I still need to do more prep work before painting. My plan is to keep the rust spray on everything outside of the king pin area that swivels and the axel painted. It will be a pain to mask on a rotating swivel but I will try to pull it off.

[Jonathan]

Thanks for holding those parts for me. I hope you have room for them without too much trouble. I really hope to get it driving soon so I can start the interior next.

rcarlisle wrote

I have a couple smaller boxes with parts leftover and things from past projects.   I have a box of stuff for this dude working on a project of his own.  LOL.   Them seat hinge covers sure is looking good...

[Jonathan]

Back to this suspension part again. It needed more prep and paint. It is so heavy that I had to use my engine hoist to hold it up. Attached it to my vise to dry.

[Jonathan]

I found an ugly puppy under my truck. I think I will keep it to match my ugly truck. It seems to like the antenna.

[rcarlisle]

Nice mascot!

[Jonathan]

The old mascot does not like car rides. Hopefully this one will be a good truck dog.

rcarlisle wrote

Nice mascot!

[grumpin]

Jonathan wrote

The old mascot does not like car rides. Hopefully this one will be a good truck dog.

rcarlisle wrote

Nice mascot!

Ha! If those two could talk!

[Jonathan]

Actually she already started telling secrets to my dog yesterday. Whatever she said was shocking to him.

grumpin wrote

Jonathan wrote

The old mascot does not like car rides. Hopefully this one will be a good truck dog.

rcarlisle wrote

Nice mascot!

Ha! If those two could talk!

[Jonathan]

I am out of paint and you all know how much paint I use. So I ordered online at Advanced Auto Parts because they usually have good coupons for online only. Right now is MAR1 coupon code for 20% off. I saw an option for free delivery too so selected that. They had Door Dash at my house in less then 30 mins with my order at my front door! Just amazing service. Now I can start painting again when it warms up above 70F which sadly won't be this week.

[Jonathan]

Thanks Matthew, I am glad you enjoyed the read. The weather is warming up so hopefully my posts will be more regular with updates.

Dorsai wrote

I dropped into this discussion for a quick break from Java coding, and didn't come up for air until I'd read the whole thing.  Fantastic thread, love the attention to detail.  Can't wait to see more!

[Jonathan]

Saturday was a bust due to it being cold and raining. But Sunday was sunny and a good chance to get more done. The time changed too so now the sun sets later. This will really help me get more done during the week after work since it won't be dark after I finish work now.

I did some more work on the axel again near the king pin. It is hard to get around the rotating parts near the end the wheel goes. I was spraying brake parts cleaner first before using the wire wheel and noticed that the cleaner was not removing the rust inhibitor spray I put on the axel end. It seemed to have no affect on it which was very impressive. The only way I could remove it was to use the wire wheel. Perhaps a stronger cleaner may dissolve it but I plan to keep it there anyway and just use paint on the main part of the axel.

The grease nipple was not screwed in all the way so I tried to tighten it before greasing again. It never seemed to get tight and I did not want to strip it so I just snugged it up. I added more grease to prevent parts cleaner and other junk from getting inside the king pin.

Just needs a little more prep work and I can paint it when the weather warms up.